TASTINGS

Satisfying the cookie monster (without the scary trans fats)

May 03, 2006|By Monica Eng, Tribune staff reporter

Now that Kraft has quietly slipped its Oreos back on the shelf without the old heart-clogging trans fats, we thought we would test them to see how they fared against a crop of other chocolate sandwich cookies that also are free of the fats (which come from hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils).

Once a staple of processed snacks, trans fats are increasingly being phased out with lots--and sometimes no--fanfare.

Oreos, even without trans fats, won by a margin. Joe-Joe's, from Trader Joe's stores, earned second-place honors, with the Back to Nature brand (purchased at Whole Foods Market) following closely in third.

For the record, though, we also conducted a separate informal--but still blind--test between the old Oreos and the new trans fat-free Oreos. The old Oreo--now virtually gone from store shelves--won by a two-to-one margin, with tasters applauding the filling's nice vanilla flavor, smooth texture and, strangely enough, more chocolatey flavor in the biscuit. And speaking of Oreos, a new Dunkers oblong version, also minus trans fats, is being introduced; it's ideal for milk-dipping.

Products are scored on a scale of 1 to 9, with 9 being highest. Prices are based on what we paid for them at the supermarket and may reflect sales or discounts from frequent-shopper cards.

And the winners are . . .

Oreo (7 points. $4.39 per 18-ounce 24 cents per ounce.) "Classic Oreo flavor with a good mix of cocoa and icing." "Yum, where's the milk?" "Ah just right, nice sense of personality; great chocolate flavor."